Batra, shocked trial lawyers lobby, leaves group

Jim Odato had a great catch in his column today: Ethics commissioner Ravi Batra, who has a penchant for drawing publicity to himself, was commenting publicly about the appointment of Michael Jaffe as president of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association.

It lobbies. Batra is supposed to oversee lobbyists. Eyebrows raised. Batra sent this e-mail:

Thanks to Jim Odato, who informed me that NYSTLA, not just Lawpac, does lobbying in NYS, and despite my respect for all bar associations, the rights of victims, the vital jury system and the necessary impartiality and independence of the judiciary, I have left a message for Larry Parks resigning my bar-membership in NYSTLA to avoid even the appearance of impropriety in bar membership, even as it comes without “duck hunting” rights.